A Pop of Portulaca

At the greenhouse we love showing off our plants!  The new, the unusual, the overlooked...if we're growing it, we have an appreciation for it.  Portulaca is one of my favorites to show off and point out.  Folks that know portulaca know that it has a bit of a reputation for being old fashioned, or something you might find in your grandmother's garden.  (And, yes, the first thing that pops into my head when I think of portulaca is the old black kettle at our Uncle John's house that would be planted full of them every summer.)  Those old seed varieties perhaps weren't terribly exciting by today's standards, but they were tough, dependable color.

The past few years we have been sifting though newer hybrid varieties that combine the best of both worlds:  powerful, unique color AND incredible durability.  Just like the old fashioned portulaca, the newer types love the heat, are drought-tolerant, and require little water.  They will do well in landscape, containers, and we often use them in hanging baskets.  Here's a brief list of our current favorite portulacas:

Portulaca 'Rose Flambeau'

Oh boy- few things are better than plants with funky foliage!  The pink flowers of 'Rose Flambeau' perfectly pop off it's green and white leaves.  This type is new for 2017 and we are loving it!

Portulaca Colorblast Series

This is perhaps one of the most unique portulacas we have seen yet!  Colorblast 'Watermelon Punch' and 'Mango Mojito' pack a lot of color into a little bloom.  The bicolor flowers are reminiscent of calibrachoa (the pink and yellow pattern of 'Watermelon Punch' is eerily similar to Calibrachoa 'Holy Moly!') and are just terribly eye-catching from a distance as well as interesting up close.  

Portulaca 'Samba Rose'

Samba Rose isn't exactly new, but it would be a shame not to highlight this beauty- it's a stunner!  The hot pink blooms are two to three inches wide, nearly triple the size of other portulacas.  It's trailing habit is especially noticeable in hanging baskets.

Portulaca Pazazz Series

There's no two ways about it, the Pazazz series has become a standard for us.  This series has a great range of powerful color, a thick growing habit, and blooms continually.  It comes in Pink Glow, Red Flare, Vivid Yellow, and Tangerine- just don't ask us to pick a favorite!


So if you're looking for something to go in that hot, dry, impossible-to-grow-anything place...perhaps it's time to try a little pop of portulaca!

-Anna Mary

Colorful Coleus!

When in doubt, add foliage!  Containers or flower beds, small or large, that's one of my rules- and the advice I pass along most.  A colorful foliage plant is a fabulous addition to any combination.  It provides consistent visual contrast and interest (without relying on flowers!).  

Coleus is great for all of these things!  Over the years we have grown oodles of coleus.  This season alone we have over 30 varieties in a rainbow of colors and varigations.  However it seems that no matter how many funky kinds there are, there are some standard colors that we reach for over and over...and over!  

The past few years we have been repeatedly impressed with the lineup that Ball seed has cultivated.  They have come out with a really nice lineup that has the colors we depend on, plus the durability we like to see throughout the season.

Anyway, these five varieties are just really solid plants- and the colors are exactly what we love to use!

Coleus Redhead

2 to 6 hours of sun; 18-30"

A rich, gorgeous red.  Like most others in this lineup it will take between two and six hours of sun...that's a big window!

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Coleus Campfire

6 or more hours of sun; 18-30"

One of my personal favorites- the bright orange almost glows!  Of the five coleus listed here, Campfire prefers the most sun.

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Coleus Wasabi

2 to 6 hours of sun; 18-30"

Oh, Wasabi!  We would be devastated not to have Wasabi to work with.  You can spot that chartreuse from a mile away, if not two!

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Coleus Vino

2 to 6 hours of sun; 18-30"

Sometimes you just need something dark!  Vino is a fabulous foil for other flowering plants and really allows them to 'pop'.

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Coleus Coleosaurus

2 to 6 hours of sun; 24-36"

Coleosaurus is the tallest of the bunch (hence the name!).  Its versatile, vibrant coloring serves as either a neutral or a feature plant in a combination.

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If you're familiar with coleus, you know this is barely scratching the surface...but these five are a great place to start!  

-Anna Mary

Ketchup 'N' Fries

Every year there are a few plants that we're exceptionally excited about.  A few years ago we were thrilled to be able to grow grafted tomato and pepper plants for the first time- and we loved them! We're still growing a wide variety of grafted tomatoes this spring, and added into the mix is a funky new plant:  Ketchup 'n' Fries. Ketchup 'n' Fries is a cherry tomato grafted onto potato rootstock... so it will bear both tomatoes and potatoes.  Get it?  It's Ketchup 'n' Fries!  This is the first real push for this plant in the U.S., after it has found great interest and success in Europe as the 'TomTato'.  While it's not an entirely new concept (I've read about similar plants grown in the 1990's or so), it's definitely a fun one!  They'd be great in a garden bed or in a pot on your patio.  Tasty, unusual, and what a great conversation starter!

So who's up for some Ketchup 'n' Fries?!

-Anna Mary

A Very Colorful Christmas!

When you think of poinsettias, what color comes to mind?  Don't know about you, but I automatically think... RED!  Red is such a great color- it's festive, it's traditional, and it's a vibrant contrast to those dark winter days.  I love it!

...But.  As wonderful as the traditional red can be, there's something to be said for the funky new varieties in the greenhouse: 

Last year, we really went off the rails when we introduced Ecke's poinsettia hybrid Luv U Pink, the hottest of hot pinks we've ever seen on a poinsettia!  Along with the Luv U Pink, this season we were able to add two more funky colors into the mix, Suntory's 'Princettia' Soft Pink and 'Princettia' Max White.  'Princettia' is a euphorbia like the traditional poinsettia, however it is a different hybrid.  In appearance, the two are noticeably different, but still noticeably similar.  We love the unusual colors that are offered in this plant!

'Princettia' Soft Pink is such a sweet color!  These petite plants are sure to catch your eye in the sea of all the red poinsettias.  They're noticeably different in color from the Luv U Pink, but are beatiful alongside that hot pink color.

It is so unusual to find a true white poinsettia!  The traditional whites are definitively white, but do tend to have an ivory or yellow tint. The 'Princettia' Max White is by far the truest white we have ever seen in a poinsettia.  Certainly not ivory, and definitely not yellow! They're truly as white as snow. (Or as white as a sheet of printer paper, though that's a less romantic description.)

These three hybrids are a great alternative to the red poinsettia!  I can see them grouped as a trio in terra cotta or with pink or silver foil.  And if you like to keep your poinsettias well into the winter, the nontraditional colors would be lovely in the new year too!    

-Anna Mary

W.O.W. !

Wow, right?!  The recent warm weather has been good to our Delosperma.  Delosperma (also known as Ice Plant) is a perennial favorite- literally, it is one of our favorite perennials!  This year we were lured to the new "Wheels of Wonder" series by promises of exceptional coloring and massive flower sizes (twice that of traditional delosperma).  We have not been disappointed!  Pictured is W.O.W. Hot Pink Wonder; we also love Fire Wonder (red/orange), Golden Wonder (yellow), and Violet Wonder (lavender).

This plant is tough as nails, drought tolerant, and perennial.  It makes for a great ground cover and works well for containers, too. Try using it in succulent combinations- it's able to vine through your planter to cover the soil, spills beautifully, and the flowers are a colorful accent.  

-Anna Mary

Gotta "Dig" These!

The perennial question... "What's new this year?!".  This spring, like most, there are just oodles of new plants out!  We're always on the lookout for updated versions of old favorites and plants that we have simply never seen before.  Here's some of the plants we're extra excited about this season:

Glamouflage Grape

A really great twist on the classic petunia from Hort Couture!  This petunia is the perfect combination of flower and foliage.  As soon as we saw the variegated foliage, we were sold!  We tried out Glamouflage Grape last spring in a limited quantity and were absolutely thrilled with it's color, habit and performance.  Unique and attention-grabbing foliage allows the bright purple blooms to really pop.  What's not to like?

Platinum Blonde English Lavender

Speaking of variegated foliage, Platinum Blonde lavender is a great option for your perennial collection.  There's nothing better than a plant that doesn't need to bloom to be beautiful!  Just like traditional lavender, it's perfect for full sun.  Another great update to an old favorite.  It even has it's own facebook page!  

The Whirlpool Coleus

The Whirlpool comes to us compliments of the folks at Proven Winners.  The past few seasons we've come to love the chartreuse color of  the Wasabi coleus from Ball Seed, and now there's PW's The Whirlpool.  It's always good to have options!  One of our unspoken "rules" is that most planters look even better with a pop of that bright green color.  We're excited to give The Whirlpool a go this spring!

Pink Zazzle- Hybrid Gomphrena

If there were no other new plants this year, Pink Zazzle would be more than enough to keep us happy!  After seeing it, reading about it, and getting wrapped up in all the hype surrounding it, we are beyond excited about Pink Zazzle!  This plant is a hybrid gomphrena- think the traditional cut flower on steroids.  Just like gomphrena, Pink Zazzle likes it hot and dry (this point alone seals the deal!).  But to top it off, the flowers are unlike anything we've ever seen before.  Hot magenta flowers that are at least the size of a golf ball- some sources claim it will get up to three inches across.  This would make a great specimen plant, or group it with portulaca, sedum lemon coral or another rugged sun-lover.  Irresistible!

Four of our favorites!  (But there's plenty more...)  Do you "dig"?

-Anna Mary

Basil & Begonias

Savour Greek Basil Tree

It was a beautiful afternoon to be in the greenhouse!  Sue was up to her elbows in basil while Marty was busy planting begonias.  If it weren't for all of the poinsettias, we might have thought it was spring!

I cannot get enough of these basil topiaries!  They're everything you could ever want- practical (who doesn't use basil?!), sophisticated, easy to care for, and they smell delicious.  We'll have them for sale in November & December.  They're a perfect hostess gift.

Seriously, the scent is amazing- I can't wait to put one in my kitchen!

-Anna Mary

Presto Pesto!

We adore Pesto Perpetuo!  Its name almost sounds like part of a magician's act- "Pesto Perpetuo!"  And compared to traditional basil this one has trick up its sleeve.  Its flashy foliage is worthy of any herb garden and looks great in mixed containers, too!  But even better:  it will not flower!  And of course, that means that it will continue to grow without depending on you to pinch back those pesky flowers.  Magic!

-Anna Mary

Lavender Phenomenal = Phenomenal Lavender

One of the (many) things that keeps us hooked on flowers is all the different plants.  Every season there seems to be endless amounts of new or improved plants- and it keeps us on our toes!  Last week I highlighted one of our favorite newbies, the Mighty 'Matos and made mention of another: a new perennial, Lavender Phenomenal.

Don't be fooled by this little guy!  It may be small and unpretentious now, but it wasn't named Lavender Phenomenal for nothing.  Take a look:

From the Lavender Phenomenal Facebook page

Pretty phenomenal!  The plant itself is full, even, and smothered in beautiful blooms.  And the best part?  It can back up its beauty with a whole lot of brawn.  It's being touted for its exceptional tolerance of heat and humidity and common diseases.  Also, Lavender Phenomenal stands out from the traditional Lavender Hidcote in that the foliage does not die back.  A "phenomenal" addition to any sunny spot! Could you ask for more?  

-Anna Mary

Outstanding: Mighty 'Matos!

Each season there's something new that tries to catch our attention. Actually, there's usually so many new plants that we get a little overwhelmed!  In the sea of all things new for 2013, there are two plants that have managed to stand out from the rest:  Lavender Phenomenal (more to come on that later!) and Mighty 'Mato grafted tomatoes.

We are super excited for the Mighty 'Matos and have very high expectations for these little guys.  They have a great reputation for their productivity and flavor- that's where the grafting comes in.  A grafted tomato begins as two plants:   one which will be used as the rootstock (the bottom or root system of the plant) and one to be used as the scion (the fruit-bearing top of the plant).  In the case of Mighty 'Mato, the rootstock comes from their trademarked SuperNatural rootstock.  The rootstock and scion are then grafted together and are able to fuse and heal into one plant.

The benefits of these grafted vegetables allow growers to get the best of both worlds:  A strong, disease-resistant root system combined with exceptionally productive plants and sizeable, tasty tomatoes!  Who could ask for more?

Most importantly:  In order reap the benefits of the graft, its integrity needs to be maintained!  When planting, the graft CANNOT be buried.  But don't stress out too much, each plant comes with easy instructions!

We're so excited to try some of the unique types of Mighty 'Matos! Each of the types we have chosen to grow are known for their excellent flavor:

Grafted Brandywine:  An heirloom type.  Expected to produce one to two pound beefsteaks.

Grafted Chocolate Stripes:  Add some color to your salads!  Striped skin in green and scarlet.

Grafted Amish Paste:  An heirloom type.  Great for cooking, sauce and canning.

Grafted Bumblebee Purple:  A unique striped cherry type tomato with a great name, too!

Grafted Mortgage Lifter:  An heirloom type.  Known for it's productivity.

Also!  Grafted Big Bertha Pepper:  Will produce bell peppers up to seven inches long!

If you're curious to read more go to: MightyMato.com.  So as you're contemplating your summer garden, don't forget to ask yourself... "To graft, or not to graft?"  This year, that is the question!

-Anna Mary

Pretty in Pink

So sweet!  The new Twister Pink verbena has caught our eye down in the growing houses.  It's the perfect combo- sturdy, sun-loving verbena with a simple but unique flower.  What's not to love?

High-Tech Tags

Plant tags can be super helpful... or not.  Most of the time, you can depend on the information printed on that little piece of plastic to tell you how tall to expect it to grow, if it prefers sun or shade and, most importantly, its name.  Of course, if you've ever spent time shopping for flowers you probably know that tags aren't always as informative as you wished.

Now take a close look at these tags:

See anything new?  Several plant brands are now incorporating QR codes into their tags.  These little black and white pixelated barcodes have been popping up everywhere from magazine ads to business cards to television commercials... and now plant tags!  They can be a wealth of information for anyone who chooses to use them (but the catch is that you need a smart phone with a QR code scanning app).  It's a simple process- scan the code and check out the website that pops up.

So the next time you're scratching your head and wishing for some more details on that cool new plant, check if there's a QR code.  Or, just ask one of the girls here... remember, people can be pretty helpful too!

  

Introducing... the Coir Pot!

Plant-able pots have been popping up all over the place these past few years, claiming to dissolve into the dirt after just one season.  It seems almost too good to be true!  In our experience, it has been to good to be true- so far...

  Our continuing quest to find the solution to plastic pots has led us to the "Coir" pot.  Take a close look, and you can see that this little guy is made up of coconut fibers and molded into an exact replica of its plastic counterpart:  

Pretty neat, right?  For the trial run we've planted up all sorts of veggies in the Coir pots.  This spring is the first time we've offered anything like this in a retail setting and we're so excited to share our "experiment" with all of you- we can't wait to see how the Coir pots perform!

Seeing Pink

Watching the poinsettias turn colors is a treat every year and this year we're especially enjoying a new, fun color pattern! Ice Punch seems to be the star of the season with it's bright bracts. Take a look for yourself:

For those of you on our mailing list, keep your eyes open for our postcards. We'll be mailing them out ASAP!